Summary:
I suggest that the electoral reform selection
process be organized so that if no proportional representation
system can be agreed upon or approved by the public, that the
Alternative Vote (Preferential) Ballot will be adopted.
Argument:
Proportional representation schemes offer the
greatest promise of improved representation, but are also subject
to negative arguments. (E.g. too many small parties, too many
minority governments etc.)
The Alternative Vote, where the voter indicates
preferences on the ballot, may not promise as great an improvement,
but it is inarguably an improvement. (I.e. there are no negative
aspects to it, other than the trivial point that counting the votes
is more complicated.) It would be a great relief to be able to vote
for who I want to vote for, without worrying about aiding a
candidate to whom I am opposed.
What I wish to avoid is a situation where your
Assembly recommends a proportional system, it is put to
the public in a referendum, it is turned down, and we get nothing.
So my request is that you position the Alternative
Vote as a fall-back. For example, if you recommend a
proportional system, you could recommend to the government that if
the proportional system is turned down by referendum, that
the Alternative Vote be adopted.
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